13

Mario, Luigi, and Pauline were now dashing through the dark desert towards the pyramids to avoid being caught by any more of Bowser's evil Koopa forces. The only guiding light that they were able to rely on was the reflected light of the moon, which hung high like a scary glowing Boo ghost. The air was surprisingly cool, for there were no clouds to keep in the great heat of the day. Even so, Mario was very thirsty, especially since he took a sip of that wine before he finally fell asleep. He was now beginning to regret that decision. Pauline's bare feet were beginning to get sore and Luigi was beginning to feel drowsy from his dehydration, almost sick to his stomach.

Looking back from the top of a small plateau, the city of Birachai was under siege. Huge towers of smoke were rising as small buildings burned under the fiery rage of the Koopa Army. Flames were rising higher and the city began to glow orange. Mario starred at the burning city and could not help that it was Mario and Luigi's fault for its destruction. Then he remembered Toad Town. He thought of all the people that were left homeless after the invasion and the suffering that they were going through right now. He knew that he and his brother were no different from any of them. Still, he could not help but feel sorrow for the people of Birachai as well. They, along with the people of Toad Town, did not do anything to deserve such cruel beatings from Bowser.

"Look at that." Pauline said. "It's bullshit that Bowser can go about destroying innocent cities! It's been going on for far too long!"

"You can say that again!" Luigi said. "We've already been victims of his evil agenda three times in our lives."

"I don't think its safe anywhere now." Mario said. "It seems that Bowser is working harder and harder to corner and annihilate us. There's no way we can give ourselves away and expect Bowser to leave us alone. We have to keep moving."

"I can agree with that." Luigi said.

"Me too." Pauline said. "I just wish I could guide you two along the rest of the journey. But the truth is I'm simply not fit for the challenges you two will face."

"You can't leave us now!" Mario said. "You'll get captured yourself, if not killed by Bowser's forces! I can't lose you again!"

"But you're not doing this for me." Pauline said. "You're doing this for Princess Peach and the whole world. Listen, I told Luigi about everything that happened to me when our relationship fizzled away and I think you deserve to know as well."

Pauline told everything he told Luigi to Mario and Mario understood. It was not his fault after all.

"I never realized that you went through all that trouble." Mario said. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, really." Pauline said. "What matters now is that you make Peach happy. We can still be friends you know."

"True, but…" Mario paused.

"But, what?" Pauline asked.

"I just don't want you to get hurt, Pauline." Mario said. "I'm worried that something bad will happen to you. I hate to say it, but women are very vulnerable in this world, and I want you to stay safe from all the thugs that are ruining it. I don't want to lose any more people that are close to me. Believe me, I've been through it enough times to know that it is a cruel thing to experience, and I don't to see it happen again."

Pauline put her hand on Mario's shoulder and looked at him in the eye with her glistening grayish-blue eyes.

"Listen. You've saved my life twice, and I couldn't be any more thankful for what you've done. Tonight, I'm saving you and your brother from the Koopa Army. They will stop at nothing to kill you guys and take the Crystals Stars for their own mindless destruction. You and your brother have a prophecy to fulfill and I don't want to interfere with it; I would just slow you down. Besides, I have no place for what's in store for the future."

"What are you talking about?!" Luigi asked. "You're contradicting yourself! Without you, the prophecy would've ended. If it weren't for you, we would be laying in our hotel beds dead! You already have a vital standing in the prophecy!"

"Luigi's right." Mario said. "We would be dead if it weren't for you… You're just as much of a heroine to me as I am a hero to you."

Pauline embraced Mario and starting weeping tears of joy.

"I never knew you thought of me that way." Pauline said. "That was probably that nicest thing that anyone has ever said to me, except for 'I love you'."

"Really?" Mario asked.

"Yeah." Pauline said. "Both of those remarks were uttered by you, silly!"

Mario starred for a moment.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye." Mario said.

"Yes, unfortunately." Pauline said. "I don't mean to be a coward for leaving you two to save the world, but I can't afford to slow you two down."

"We understand." Mario said. "But whatever you do, please don't get caught by the Koopa Army! If you must, seek refuge in the parallel world. It's the only place I can think of that hasn't been touched by Bowser's evil hands."

"I'll try." Pauline said. "I wish you two the best of luck on your adventure and I am confident that you and Peach share a fantastic marriage."

"I'm glad that you think so." Mario replied.

Pauline smiled. She went over to Luigi and gave him a large hug as well. Luigi's cheeks became warm.

"I wish the same for you and Daisy too." Pauline said. "It was great meeting you for the first time."

"It was nice meeting you too." Luigi said. "I hope we see you again in the near future."

"The same goes for you too." she replied.

As Pauline said her goodbyes and walked off into the gloomy nighttime desert, Mario suddenly remembered something.

"Pauline!" Mario shouted.

"Yeah?" she called out.

"Thank you for saving us!"

"My pleasure!" Pauline said. "Hey, when you see Bowser, can you kick him where it counts for me?"

"Of course!" Mario replied. "Luigi and I were already planning on it!"

Pauline laughed. She knew that Mario Luigi were well on their way to becoming great heroes.

As the brothers said their final goodbyes, they watched Pauline make her way out into the desert before she finally disappeared into the darkness. They could only hope and pray that she would be able to find shelter and escape the seemingly inescapable wrath of Bowser, but at the same time, they felt confident that she would. After standing for a few more minutes, Mario and Luigi continued walking towards the pyramids, whose tips glowed under the moon and stars like frozen icicles in a winter city. Little did they know that danger was already waiting for them just beyond the sandy hills…

Pauline has now left the two brothers to carry on with their adventure. The brothers seem confident that she will stay out of trouble's way, but they don't realize that they are walking into a trap. What is the danger that lies just beyond the sandy hills? The answer will be revealed in the next chapter. Stay tuned!

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